Parables of Jesus #8
The Fig Tree & The Faithful Servant
Mark 13:28-37
- Find a quiet place without distractions.
- Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
- Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer.
- Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
- Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
- From memory, determine the central points.
- These stories may or may not be actual parables, but are considered here as parable. Authorities differ.
- A fig tree, may represent Israel or maybe not, but when a fig tree puts out leaves, summer is surely near. Jesus had just described conditions that would occur prior to the second coming in verses 3 to 27. When certain events are observed, the end is near.
- The “generation” would not end until all the events Jesus mentions will take place. As for “generation” we cannot be sure the meaning of this. Maybe that very generation of apostles, or the nation of Israel, or the church…many guesses without any actual certainty.
- Heaven and earth will pass away, but what Jesus says, the facts of what Jesus says, will be fulfilled.
- Jesus moves on then to the story of a servant whose master leaves on a journey and the servant does not know when he should return.
- The precautionary charges are: “be on guard,” “keep awake,” “stay awake,” “stay awake,” “stay awake.”
- The master will return, this is certain. The servant is to go about the work previously assigned. The servant is to be faithful to his or her work.
- Jesus is nearing the end of His earthly ministry; only a short time left until His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. His followers must be warned as to what is about to take place. They will be crushed, but to the work they must go.